Musings on fuels and greener, hybrid vehicles
Working in transport often brings humour and laughter to the day, but every now and then a serious discussion crops up. Usually about fuel and fuel saving. I know more about fuel saving that I could possibly want too, I seem to absorb the information that is bandied about the office, do my own research and check the’ facts’ and form my own opinions.
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My lastest piece of research was into Toyota Prius and whether the backseat could be taken out and there still be enough room for a pallet… before I even completed the research I was off on another tangent – fuel efficiency. It seems the Prius has the reputation for fuel efficiency having around 68 mpg, it’s a hybrid vehicle so it needs to be refueled with petrol on a regular basis as well as checking the battery is working at optimum performance. I don’t have one, I am just reading between the lines.
The more I looked at what Toyota where saying and what was in the press, the more I become confused.
The popular belief that hybrid vehicles are greener because they use electricity and electricity doesn’t produce fumes like a petrol engine does. This is untrue, it would be if the electricity used to propel the vehicles were from wind turbines or sea powered /hydro powered or nuclear powered. But it is not, 83% of electricity generation is still in the UK from fossil fuels, which as we all know is a huge contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. So the greener car must be greener for other reasons.
The Prius’s (is that how you say it?) efficiency comes from the intelligent systems within the engine that boost efficiency in ways that are just not done with a petrol engine. Then their is the shape to consider, it’s similar to the Corrolla in shape with a hatchback which is superbly aerodynamic (in my opinion), reducing drag and that also increases fuel longevity.
It’s not Toyota that make the claims about why the vehicle is efficient, it’s the press. The more they focus on green issues the less understanding their seems to be and much more confusion. I am still trying to unravel it all myself and while I do so, no you cannot fit a pallet in the back of a Prius. An empty pallet yes, a loaded pallet no. As far as I am aware no one wants to pay us to move an empty pallet around, so we continue to run LPG vehicles, again a hybrid system, but one I feel I understand better.
What are your experiences with hybrid vehicles?
About Sarah ArrowSarah Arrow is the managing editor of Birds on the Blog, in real life she is the communications director of a same day courier service. She is an enthusiastic UK based pro-blogger and co- author of the soon to be published Zero to Blogger
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16 Responses to Musings on fuels and greener, hybrid vehicles
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It’s very hard not to be cynical about the motor industry’s attempts at greening up their act.
Some years ago there was a story (an urban legend – or was it?) that numerous clever people had approached manufacturers in Detroit over many years with ideas, concepts, designs and even prototypes of green motors. Apparently they would be sat down, given a cheque for one or two million dollars, and told to **** off never to show their faces (or their ideas) again.
Despite eco-friendliness being so much more a part of our lives nowadays, you can’t help but wonder just how honest the hybrid-makers are in their apparently earnest desire to promote the reduction of petrol/gasoline burning. Especially in the USA the oil industry and the motor industry are symbiotic partners to put it mildly, and also to put it in terms of their zillion dollar investments therein.
Are the motor manufacturers really motivated to reduce gas guzzling?
Do turkeys promote Christmas?
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
the motor industry… I find it hard to get enthusiastic about them at times and like you I have heard tales of them paying off people with solutions.
I hope they have, and then we won’t be having a fuel crisis in a few years!
It’s very hard not to be cynical about the motor industry’s attempts at greening up their act.
Some years ago there was a story (an urban legend – or was it?) that numerous clever people had approached manufacturers in Detroit over many years with ideas, concepts, designs and even prototypes of green motors. Apparently they would be sat down, given a cheque for one or two million dollars, and told to **** off never to show their faces (or their ideas) again.
Despite eco-friendliness being so much more a part of our lives nowadays, you can’t help but wonder just how honest the hybrid-makers are in their apparently earnest desire to promote the reduction of petrol/gasoline burning. Especially in the USA the oil industry and the motor industry are symbiotic partners to put it mildly, and also to put it in terms of their zillion dollar investments therein.
Are the motor manufacturers really motivated to reduce gas guzzling?
Do turkeys promote Christmas?
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
the motor industry… I find it hard to get enthusiastic about them at times and like you I have heard tales of them paying off people with solutions.
I hope they have, and then we won’t be having a fuel crisis in a few years!
We were chauffeur driven round Rye and Winchelsea by some old friends recently who very proudly told us that the Honda was hybrid. Well, performance wise it was great. No obvious indications that it wasn’t petrol or diesel driven. Definitely a car for me to think about for the future – just, I’d like one with a sliding roof.
Sliding roof? there is the Honda CR-Z launched in Detroit, hybrid and convertible – I think it would suit you Lynn
http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-z/
Wow, must find out when it comes to the UK!! Thanks
We were chauffeur driven round Rye and Winchelsea by some old friends recently who very proudly told us that the Honda was hybrid. Well, performance wise it was great. No obvious indications that it wasn’t petrol or diesel driven. Definitely a car for me to think about for the future – just, I’d like one with a sliding roof.
Sliding roof? there is the Honda CR-Z launched in Detroit, hybrid and convertible – I think it would suit you Lynn
http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-z/
Wow, must find out when it comes to the UK!! Thanks
I considered getting an electric car and rigging up our own charging point outside Pimlico Flats for us and any tenants to use. However on inspection I don’t fit inside the electric cars currently available!
That would have been an excellent USP for your flats and apartments
I considered getting an electric car and rigging up our own charging point outside Pimlico Flats for us and any tenants to use. However on inspection I don’t fit inside the electric cars currently available!
That would have been an excellent USP for your flats and apartments
Petrol hybrids only really offer up fuel savings on shorter, more urban journeys. Toyota themselves agree that a diesel Avensis is a greener and more fuel efficient tool for long haul motorway driving.
http://www.connaughtmotorco.com/
For van drivers/ couriers the more onteresting hbrid solution is a diesel hybrid. An excellent aftermarket hybrid solution exists that is a great fit for both longer haul and round town driving, which I think Tesco are testing
http://www.connaughtengineering.com/
Their sister company has something that’ll do the deliveries a little faster
cool bananas
martin
Petrol hybrids only really offer up fuel savings on shorter, more urban journeys. Toyota themselves agree that a diesel Avensis is a greener and more fuel efficient tool for long haul motorway driving.
http://www.connaughtmotorco.com/
For van drivers/ couriers the more onteresting hbrid solution is a diesel hybrid. An excellent aftermarket hybrid solution exists that is a great fit for both longer haul and round town driving, which I think Tesco are testing
http://www.connaughtengineering.com/
Their sister company has something that’ll do the deliveries a little faster
cool bananas
martin